LOS ANGELES : Judge Temporarily Halts Palestinians’ Deportation

A federal judge on Friday ordered a temporary halt to deportation proceedings against six Palestinians accused of supporting a terrorist group, issuing an injunction barring any action against the group by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for three months.

The Palestinians and two other defendants make up the so-called L.A. Eight, who have battled to remain in the country for seven years despite allegations that they provided support to the Popular Liberation of Palestine. Authorities say the group is involved in terrorist activities, but the defendants maintain that it supplies only humanitarian aid.

In granting the three-month stay, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson said he wanted to give the six defendants an opportunity to prove their assertion that the government singled them out for selective prosecution, forbidden by the U.S. Constitution.

Paul Hoffman, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said Wilson’s order “confirms what we have said all along” about the political nature of the prosecution.

“We’re optimistic about being vindicated when the court finally resolves the issue later this year,” Hoffman said.